SUMMARY
Summary: The pre-UNCTAD X Seminar focused on the interface between competition policy and development by organizing discussions around (i) worldwide concentration of market power through mega-mergers, etc.; (ii) deregulation and privatization; (iii) transfer of technology and intellectual property rules; and (iv) the role of business and consumers to promote competition and development proved highly successful. It brought home the point that integration of developing countries into the world economy depends to a large extent on their ability to gain an equal opportunity to access technology, human and financial resources and export markets, which in turn depends on the ability to challenge anti-competitive practices and abusive conduct of firms with market power (e.g. international cartels, mega-mergers leading to monopolies or dominant powers, abuse of IPR to corner markets, etc.) The discussions showed that, in addition to the measures to be taken at the national level, there is a strong case for exploring the merits of studying the implications for development of a possible multilateral framework on competition policy. Further research and analysis are needed to evaluate the policy implications and possible international commitments which may emerge from such an agreement. This would allow developing countries to form an opinion on the merits of such a multilateral framework. [English only]
